Flowers That Thrive for the Winter
Contrary to popular thought, the flowering period in gardens does not have to end with the end of summer. There are a number of flowers that bloom during the winter time. There are also many varieties that bloom throughout the year. The year-long bloomers include aster, bourvardia, carnation, alstromeria, anthurium, chrysanthemums, gerbera daisy, Asiatic lily and lily. The winter blooming flowers thrive from the end of autumn to the beginning of spring or even a little longer. These include amaryllis, acashia, phlox, protea, star of Bethlehem, statice, queen Anne's lace, narcissus, hellebores, winter Daphne, camellia sasanqua and orchids. Does this Spark an idea?
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Hellebores
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Hellebores are also known as Lenten rose and Christmas rose. The flowers bloom in winter and early spring in shades of pink, green, white and dark purple and the plants reach a mature height to 1 to 1½ feet. Hellebores is a long-lived plant and its flowers stand out in an otherwise drab winter background. If the winters are very harsh, it is likely that the buds may be damaged but the foliage is hardy enough to survive and makes the plant worthwhile to have in a winter garden. The plants are easy to grow and pest-free and rarely require additional watering after a thorough first feeding if they are placed in a moist, woodland site. Otherwise they need to be watered every week during the first summer. The best time to plant is during fall so that there is ample time for the plants to get established before winter. Hellebores prefer to grow in the shade in well drained soil.
Camellia Sasanqua
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Camellia sasanqua is an evergreen that blooms from late fall to April with large, showy flowers in shades of red, pink, white and variegated varieties. The plants reach a mature height of 6 to 12 feet. However the older and more mature plants can be as tall as 25 feet. Some varieties of camellia sasanqua start to bloom in the middle of December and bear flowers until April. The best time for planting is during spring and fall so that the roots have plenty of time to grow before winter. Camellias prefer to grow in a partially shaded site that is also protected from drying strong winds in a well drained, moist soil. The flowers thrive in a slightly acidic soil. For larger blooms fertilize plants with 1 tbsp. of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every foot of plant height every three months. Prune the plant as soon as it is done flowering.
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Winter Daphne
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Winter Daphne is also called Daphne or Daphne odora. The plants are evergreen and the dark red buds open into white intensely aromatic flowers in February. The plants reach a mature height of 2 to 4 feet and are a favored plant for container growing as well. The leaves of the plants are edged with a band of yellow. The plants grow best in partial shade in a neutral pH soil. Good soil drainage and mulch are recommended as it ensures the long-term health of the plants. Make sure the mulch is pulled back at least 3 inches from the plant stems in order to prevent stem rot. Use a tablespoon of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every foot of plant height in spring and middle of summer. Water the plants once every ten days during the initial growing season and then once every two weeks.
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